Thought that you might like to know how new products are developed/produced for the White Feather Incense Line (named after Pluma), The World Famous Witche’s Powders Company, and The Lucky Incense Company (named after that Lucky cat who came from Ohio and preceded Pluma) . After roaming around in my head for awhile…new products go through a long process to reach their final developement stage… and it goes a little something like this…

1. An idea sparks in my brain…maybe a request from you for a product, (Saint Expedite Oil and Powder is in the process now because several of our wonderful customers have asked for it)…sometimes it is as simple as a bead that calls for a product to be built around it, (watch for new Owl beads to appear in jewelry and incense)…ideas come from everywhere…and there are so many I have to be selective as I only have so much time and space!

2. The general idea is refined into a specific direction…oil? powder? incense? spray? form depends on best use, some products become available multiple forms.

3. Then I research what herbs, spices, oils, colors, crystals etc will work to make the new product perform to its best ability. Thanks to my online friend Carolina for direction and help on the Saint Expedite label and formula! And thanks to Rita for the info on Isis, her oil will be bottled Sunday.

4. Ingredients are gathered, and prepared, herbs and spices usually are hand ground, hand mixed, all of our products are hand crafted in small batches, using my own energy and intuition, then dedicated to their jobs by ceremony and intention. Everything I use in blends is organic, grown in my garden if possible, purchased from the best organic growers if I can’t grow it here.

5. Timing is very important..Full Moon, Waning Moon? Dark Moon? Very crucial to me..Days of the week, Planets all lend important associations to creating the best working products. Spells to increase have different timelines than spells to decrease. Many products spend time on the outdoor Altar, soaking up either Sunlight or MoonLight. This past full ‘SuperMoon’ has enriched several new oils and a couple of incense blends..these will be showing up for sale by next week. Often incense blends or oils have a long melding time during which the ingredients mingle, consort, and blend together, forming the right mixture to get the job done. Pluma’s Dad always says, ” ‘The Magic ingredient is time.”

6. Names of products usually follow use, but the right name is most important of all. Some names are traditional names, passed down thru history, some have names dictated by specific needs. All have to be commisioned with just the right wording for designated performance.

7. Packaging…bag? (paper or plastic) bottle (what size or shape…what lid, dropper, spray etc.)?, box, I invision a package that is easy to use, suits the product well, works with the displays already in place in the shop, and that make the product look the way I think it should. Many times this means ordering in special bottles or boxes.

8. Pricing the product means I need to know what each ingredient in the formula costs, what packaging costs will be and how much similar products on the retail market cost so that we can be competitive. As you know if you shop the Funky Karma we have the largest selection and the best prices in the area.

9. Labels usually develop by themselves, I just print them, after purchasing ink and paper or sticky labels.

10. Then to assemble the product, together with proper packaging and labeling. Every bag has to be filled with the right amount of product, weighted and closed before the label is applied. This usually involves help from Pluma’s Dad. He is a better packager than me, so he does and I apply labels. Occasionally Sara helps package, she has the patience to work the quirky scale.

11. Displaying …shelf, basket, bin, hanger, then which room does the specific product belong in…Tea Shop, Magick Room, Incense Room, Book Shop, Tarot Tent, Herb Kitchen. Soon we will be developing the outside space in the back of the shop..with a Patio complete with tables and chairs, a great place to pause awhile with tea and snacks, purchase plants and related products…watch for baby Jade trees soon, offspring of the Mother Jade that caused my recent injury, (broken ribs, cracked breastbone and torn muscle…moral of this story…don’t lift heavy things, ask for help!!! And a Big Thank-you to all who have come into the shop this week to help with the things I can’t do right now, like dusting, stocking, vaccuming (thanks Amy), lifting.) Also soon to be ready for sale Apple Mint Plants and Pineapple Mint Plants.

12.Advertising..in newspaper, blog, flyers and other handouts, store signs. Sometimes I design a class around a new product so everyone can learn to use it, and gain the best results. Word of mouth advertizing is the best…Thankyou all for bringing friends into the shop, telling others about our products and in general…spreading the word.

As you can see, many things have to happen before new products reach the sales floor. As the man said, “Nothing happens until something moves”. I am very fussy about what carries our name. I want only the best products to have in my shop for your needs!

We have been busy, but it’s about time I buckled down and posted new material.The Pagan Pride Fest in October at Young Park was a blast, Sunny and not too hot, not to cold, a bit windy but hey, that’s New Mexico! We saw many old friends (who drove in from as far away as Las Vegas,NV, El Paso,TX, T or C, Ruidoso, and Albuquerque, NM, Louisiana, New York and Ohio), and met lots of new friends who are now happy customers of the store. Some items sold out, cauldrons, dragons blood and some oils, however, new supplies have been arriving all week.

It is good to have friends who will help out on busy days!

Friends visiting our booth at the Pagan Fest.

A selection of the oils we will be learning to use in this class.

We have had several classes this fall, “How to use Conjure Oils” and “Sweet spell Casting”. If you missed out I will schedule more in January.Pluma has been on “Administrative Leave without pay”, otherwise known as “grounded for life”. One day he was being too quiet, (hey Moms out there..know what I mean?) so I go look for him, he was sitting in the middle of the Jade tree, a huge plant I have had for over 25 years, that had just been brought in from the back patio at the store. Who knows why he wanted to do that, broke out several branches. He got a scolding then I was busy out front ringing up sales until I heard a crash…definately glass breaking…sounds like something in the kitchen…it was, he was sitting up, up, up on the top of the cabinets over the kitchen sink, he had knocked a ceramic vase over to crash on the floor. As I was pointing the finger, you know, the finger that says “boy, you are gonna get it when I catch you!” he turns his head, “I can’t see that finger, that means it doesn’t exist” then the paw pushes another breakable vase off the shelf to land with a crash on the floor, and then another vase over to crash. Three were broken before I climbed a chair to reach him, carried him to the timeout cage and locked him in. He knew he was in trouble because he didn’t even try to get out or ask anyone else to let him out, which he normally does. That’s why he was at home for 3 days, until I was over being so mad at him. Now he is back to his regular job of greeting customers, pulling cards out of the tarot deck and entertaining children so their parents can shop.
Saturday, November 27th is the First ever Support Your Local Small Business Day. If you know me at all then you realize that I am always saying small business is what built this country, without shop keepers, local manufacturing and hard work by all enterprising business owners we would not have the economic foundation for our freedoms. You know that we make many of the oils and incense that are sold here, as well as all of the crocheted products…by the way, there are 3 afghans available, a good selection of shawls and several lap robes, plus all of the Baby Crochet (great Christmas gifts). Henry and I would like to make this our best ever Saturday and can only do it with your help. Please shop with us from 10-6, I will have several giveaways, gift with purchase and other rewards for your participation that day. And Paul will be here in the afternoon reading Tarot Cards, I do hope to see you then.